What did I see?

[Kirstie]

On a night dive a couple of weeks ago, at Talland Bay I saw a fish that I haven't been able to identify. It was about 16-18cm long, and had rose-pink and dark red hoops (as opposed to stripes). It also had a white feeler-type thing near its mouth that it was using to brush the sand in front of it. My buddy initially said it was a red gurnard but later, said it was a red mullet. Now that I'm the proud owner of Paul Naylor's Great British Marine Animals, I looked up both fish. The one I saw didn't look like either of them (gurnard is wrong shape and mullet is striped rather than hooped). I couldn't find anything that looked like it in the book, Any ideas?

[Fiji Dave]

Not sure what it was, but remember that at night many fish change markings/colours which can make ID'ing them much harder.

Some do it during the day too and can look completely different to the standard pictures in the books. The feelers under the chin make it sound like a Red Mullet.

I can't find a night time photo of a Red Mullet, but as a general "what's this fish" link - www.fishbase.org - is very useful.

Cheers
Dave

[Dr Stevil]

The picture in this link is a poor one but from your description it sounds it like a Bib aka pouting Trisopterus lucus, which have a distinct vertical banding pattern as you've described. They're fairly common on the South Coast so you should see them a lot. The "white feeler-type thing" is called a barbel. Generally these fish are quite bold and, like many Wrasse, will follow divers around if they're disturbing the sediment as this reveals food for them

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=1367&genusname=Trisopterus&s peciesname=luscus

[Doug Parker]

Kirsty. The picture on page 203 of Naylors Great British Marine Animals isn't typical of the Red Mullet. The fact that you said it was 'pushing its barbels' through the sand/mud and the description you gave makes me certain it was a Red Mullet. You usually see them at night, dive Firestone bay at night and i can virtually guarantee that you will see a couple of dozen of them in the shallows as you come in on the cables.

You must have seen the Bib at the bottom of the reef where you start coming up the cables. Totally different. Free swimming and not on the ground like the Mullet are.

[Kirstie]

Originally Posted by DougParker

Kirsty. The picture on page 203 of Naylors Great British Marine Animals isn't typical of the Red Mullet. The fact that you said it was 'pushing its barbels' through the sand/mud and the description you gave makes me certain it was a Red Mullet. You usually see them at night, dive Firestone bay at night and i can virtually guarantee that you will see a couple of dozen of them in the shallows as you come in on the cables.

You must have seen the Bib at the bottom of the reef where you start coming up the cables. Totally different. Free swimming and not on the ground like the Mullet are.

I reckon you're right. I went to Sainsburys yesterday and saw some Red Mullet on the fish counter (not an ideal location, I know) and it did look quite a bit like them. Except the one I saw at Cawsands looked a lot happier.

I saw loads of Bib when I did my AOW Deep Dive at Devil's Point. Plus the biggest, baddest lobster I've ever seen in my life! Loads of horrible Dead Man's Fingers too!

[beanie]

Originally Posted by Kirstie

I reckon you're right. I went to Sainsburys yesterday and saw some Red Mullet on the fish counter (not an ideal location, I know) and it did look quite a bit like them. Except the one I saw at Cawsands looked a lot happier.

lol

I suppose that's one way to do fish id

[Kirstie]

Originally Posted by beanie

lol

I suppose that's one way to do fish id

Well, I know they sell it because I've bought it there before! So I thought it would be a good place to start!

[beanie]

Originally Posted by Kirstie

Well, I know they sell it because I've bought it there before! So I thought it would be a good place to start!

I like that see fish in sea pop round to the supermarket and eat it

[Kirstie]

Originally Posted by beanie

I like that see fish in sea pop round to the supermarket and eat it

I do not do that! I bought the Red Mullet years ago, before I started diving! Having experienced the water they're swimming about in, I wouldn't buy and eat any fish now!

[tom]

Originally Posted by Kirstie

I bought the Red Mullet years ago,

It's bound to have gone off by now. I'd get rid of it.